7
Jul
2010
Sting-A-Man “Peeni Halle Hor” Video
Taj-E Sting A Man released his debut album “Sting is King” last week. The first video off the album is “Nach Bhabiye” I mean “Majajne” I mean “Peeni Halle Hor” featuring the vocals of Bakshi Billa.
(Sigh, another case of not-so-blatant ghost production)
22
Jun
2010
Battle of the iPhone Tumbi Applications
I don’t know how it happened, but two iPhone Tumbi Apps released virtually at the same time from two separate artists in the Bhangra industry.
First there was the Tumbi Nut, created and sold by The Sound Pipe Records.
You may have seen it in action in the Nach Bhabiye video.
Soon after the release of Tumbi Nut, came the release of iTumbi, created by and associated with Panjabi MC.
I don’t have an iPhone, so I can’t give you first hand knowledge as to what I would think is the best App, although I tried the “Dhol Nut” App and I couldn’t get the hang of it.
But scope the following, and I think you will be sold on one App versus the other.
Well as they say, “The champ is here.”
I’m sold. Even though it’s free.
(%&$# me! PMC is too sick)
7
Jun
2010
Taj-E feat. BEE2 “Nach Bhabiye” Video
A little bit on the cheesy side, and definitely not Taj-E’s and Bee2’s best work.
Trying to recreate the B.I.G. sound I see.
2
Jun
2010
Juz D “Mast Jawani” Video
This guy has a H Dhami-esque voice going for him, but that doesn’t mean the song appeals to me. In fact, if this instrumental was available, I’d gladly pay for that over the song.
Who said there is a lack of good vocalists in our industry? Oh, I think that was me.
Sigh.
2
Jun
2010
Hardee “Ishareh” Video
I’m not sure why I’m posting this. Maybe because the singing is so atrocious that it just needs to be heard.
If you want to punish someone, the song is now available on iTunes.
27
May
2010
Taj-E feat. Bee2 “Nach Bhabiye” Promo
The Sound Pipe Records are the kings of marketing. Despite some questionable signings, the duo that is BEE2 and Taj-E, always find a way to promote themselves and their products in a well thought out and entertaining manner.
Take for example their next release of “Nach Bhabiye.”
Will it be the wedding anthem of the summer? We’ll see.
(I hate how the industry predominantly revolves around the summer. Sigh)
22
Mar
2010
Jeet “Zara Bachke” Video
Here is Jeet’s debut video of his track “Zara Bachke.”
For you folks not familiar with Jeet in North America, a little back info before you go ahead and watch the video.
Jeet was one of the members of “The Family,” a Channel 4 reality-based television show based in the UK.
The series displayed his creative side, in which he acts in plays. But what got him attention, was his singing skills at home. Based on that, The Sound Pipe Records decided to extend him a recording contract.
The video is kind of corny, and if you haven’t watched the series, you won’t understand all the nuances of the video eg) Jeet’s drinking escapades and hiding it from his wife, Kaki.
I know I haven’t really sold the show well, but if you can, try and watch it, because Jeet wasn’t even the main person featured on it.
17
Feb
2010
Danny C “Fateh” Video
Danny C releases his first video for his single “Fateh” featuring Sarvjeet Kaur.
Standard issue Sound Pipe.
If you’re feeling the track, get it from iTunes.
31
Dec
2009
The Best Albums of 2009
Moving on with the best of 2009, we have the best albums.
The sole purpose of this post, is for the mere fact that people should appreciate good music, and by appreciate, I mean supporting the artists who put forth an effort to make an album made up of more than just three decent songs.
So here – in no particular order – are the top three albums of 2009.
Northern Lights – Re-Lit
The album featured sixteen tracks, of which I say seven were absolute smashes, and the rest were still pretty decent offerings in which you could manage to listen without wincing.
When I first listened to the album, I couldn’t make up my mind as to what the best song on the album was. There was a wide variety of musical styles on the album, as well as the vocalists selected were also not in your typical album.
Obviously the Kaka track has to be one of the highlights on the album, but it was tracks like “Gaddi” by Ranjit Mani that stood out. The song had an old school feel to it, and it sounded like it was paying homage to the Manak track “GT Road Te.” It just sounded like one of those songs that you see your dad singing along to, or requesting when they’re hammered.
The biggest surprise on the album had to be “Ishqeh Da Toomba.” The track was sung by Amrinder Bobby. When I first listened to it, the feeling I got was, that this dude sounds exactly like Gurdas Maan. Well it wasn’t too long before my sister pointed out that Bobby (as she knew him) was actually Gurdas Maan’s back up singer, and that he had been looking for his own record deal since the early 2000’s. Bobby has been on a few Indian singing contest shows, and most of his songs have been Gurdas Maan covers. I really hope the man’s voice is utilised more in the industry, as we all favour Gurdas Maan’s voice, but also know how much Gurdas Maan Ji does not want to be “remixed” as he likes to put it.
Twin Beats – The Sounds of Punjab
I had a good feeling about this album ever since I started corresponding with Inder (one half of Twin Beats.) Then they went and made a Reproduced segment for Bobby Friction featuring tracks from the upcoming album, and I was sold.
The album features ten tracks, of which all of them have a unique flavour, yet have big percussion in common. I don’t think I need to talk much about this album. All you need to do is check out their video’s, and you’ll recognise real. The whole album is very consistent, and in today’s time, that’s all you can ask for.
All the tracks do it for me, but the one that sticks out the most is “Twins Tappe.” This song is best enjoyed in surround sound. Seriously. When the dhol kicks in, and pans from right to left/right to left/right to left…wow! Jaswinder Daghamia has a great voice, and it’s the rawness of his vocals blended with the dhol and tumbi that makes this track killer.
Taj-E – Sik ‘n’ Twisted
This was the first album that came out this year, that when I listened to it, I didn’t feel ripped off. Sure The Sound Pipe crew really know how to market their products, and they do make some questionable signings. But this album really did a number on me.
Featuring twenty-one tracks, this album was redonkulous when I first listened to it. There are some tracks that may make you hit the next button, but on the whole, this album featured the resurrection of Juggy D with “Vang Teri.” A sick remix that accompanied it, as well as what I feel is the biggest UK Bhangra track that came out this year; “B.I.G.”
The aptly titled “B.I.G.” (because as Taj-E states; “it will be BIG on the dance floors”) is exactly that. A huge track that appeals to all generations of people. I played this track in the car with my uncles sitting in it on a memorable drive back from a party one night, and they went nuts. As I did, they instantly fell in love with the desi feel of the sample used, which made this track authentic.
If you look at the promos Taj-E released leading up to the release, you can see that he put in an honest amount of work into it, and he did it himself. There cannot be any cries of ghost producing on this album, or for that matter, any of the three albums I listed. That’s also a large reason why these albums have been chosen. Not only were they the best of ‘09, but they are all products of the people who actually have their faces on the album cover that deserve the recognition.
You may also notice that last year, there were five albums on the list. Bhangra better fix up in 2010, I don’t wanna post about just one good album next year.
2
Oct
2009
Taj-E “The Bangle” Remix Video
Well here it is, I asked for this video when the album first came out, and The Sound Pipe Records came through.
Now, let’s hope they do one for “Passe Hatt,” or a throwback video for “Tord Di Daru,” and I will be completely content.
